A French family did the same thing for my grandfather. We are still in touch with them, as well. They would have been executed or sent to the concentration camps if they had been caught helping an Allied airman. I think of that whenever some redneck know-nothing makes a joke about the French being cowards.

After four days, a Resistance fighter known by the code name Maxime appeared and, with the help of two bicycles provided by Gisele's father, guided Sam to the Fréteval Forest where 152 downed Allied air crew hid in a camp codenamed "Sherwood."

I've read more than a few histories of the war and the existence of such large camps within occupied France was news to me.

Honour to those such as Gisele & family who helped our parents & grandparents get away from the Bad Guys during that late conflict. Know far better than to call it Gt Patriotic War, too. Not really surprised to see who's handling the movie referred to in comment #1

I used to work for a former B-17 pilot who was shot down over Belgium. They and the French hid him. At one point, while hidden behind a false wall in a barn, the Gestapo showed up and hauled the whole family out in the year. When no one would reveal anything, they shot the father in the head and left.

He made it home in 4-5 months, started his own business, and had over 26,000 hours of flight time when he quit logging it.

shower_in_my_socks:A French family did the same thing for my grandfather. We are still in touch with them, as well. They would have been executed or sent to the concentration camps if they had been caught helping an Allied airman. I think of that whenever some redneck know-nothing makes a joke about the French being cowards.

Oh, and I made a movie about it.

I make plenty of jokes about them. But, I also know my history. From Wiki:

According to British historian Niall Ferguson: "Of the 125 major European wars fought since 1495, the French have participated in 50 - more than Austria (47) and England (43). Out of 168 major battles fought since 387 BC, they have won 109, lost 49 and drawn 10, giving France the most successful military power in European history."[1]

SearchN:shower_in_my_socks: A French family did the same thing for my grandfather. We are still in touch with them, as well. They would have been executed or sent to the concentration camps if they had been caught helping an Allied airman. I think of that whenever some redneck know-nothing makes a joke about the French being cowards.

Oh, and I made a movie about it.

I make plenty of jokes about them. But, I also know my history. From Wiki:

According to British historian Niall Ferguson: "Of the 125 major European wars fought since 1495, the French have participated in 50 - more than Austria (47) and England (43). Out of 168 major battles fought since 387 BC, they have won 109, lost 49 and drawn 10, giving France the most successful military power in European history."[1]

I'll mock them, because I'll mock anyone, but France is a wonderful place and the French are generally great people. Also, Paris is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. Their food isn't on par with Italy, but the wine is better.

ChubbyTiger:SearchN: shower_in_my_socks: A French family did the same thing for my grandfather. We are still in touch with them, as well. They would have been executed or sent to the concentration camps if they had been caught helping an Allied airman. I think of that whenever some redneck know-nothing makes a joke about the French being cowards.

Oh, and I made a movie about it.

I make plenty of jokes about them. But, I also know my history. From Wiki:

According to British historian Niall Ferguson: "Of the 125 major European wars fought since 1495, the French have participated in 50 - more than Austria (47) and England (43). Out of 168 major battles fought since 387 BC, they have won 109, lost 49 and drawn 10, giving France the most successful military power in European history."[1]

I'll mock them, because I'll mock anyone, but France is a wonderful place and the French are generally great people. Also, Paris is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. Their food isn't on par with Italy, but the wine is better.

Niall Ferguson, however deserves to be mocked roundly and on all sides.

A friend of my dad's has a similar story. He was a pilot, got shot down over France. He broke his ankle when he landed. He dragged himself under a bush where he was found by a young boy. The boy left and came back with his dad and uncle, members of the French Resistance. They hid him, got him medical care and after a few weeks got him back to the allies (think he was actually left with the British).

About 20 years ago, he went back to the village. He arrived in town and went into a market to ask about the family. The owner of the market was the young boy who found him under the bush.

How weird and awesome to be shown a picture of yourself as a baby by a woman a world away. Makes you believe that there are people hoping you do wonderful things with your life even if you have never met them.

Also 'Allo All is great and I have at least 3 seasons of it (which gets damned expensive after a while).

And Flanders Fields never fails to make me choke up. It's practically the second Canadian national anthem.